ooops, watch out! "He is the first man that ever drew passing notice from Ruth" really means that he is the first one who called HER attention, that she became interested in. I think a better translation, or maybe a more clear way to express it, would be "Fue el primer hombre que le atrajo a ruth."

ooops, watch out! "He is the first man that ever drew passing notice from Ruth" really means that he is the first one who called HER attention, that she became interested in. I think a better translation, or maybe a more clear way to express it, would be "Fue el primer hombre que le atrajo a ruth."

Hi!!! I have to agree with Emiliy, at leat in Argentina if you "llamás a la antención a alguien" you are actually scolding that person, and what that sentences means is that Ruth was attracted to him not that he scolded her.

Hi!!! I have to agree with Emiliy, at leat in Argentina if you "llamás a la antención a alguien" you are actually scolding that person, and what that sentences means is that Ruth was attracted to him not that he scolded her.

You definitely need context but if "El estaba tan apuesto esa noche que fue el primer hombre que (le) llamó la atención a Ruth" is gramatically incorrect. Llamar la atención a alguien is not the same as llamar la atención de alguien. I this that Emiliy's version is perfect but if you want to use atención anyway you should say "... llamó la atención DE Ruth".
Hope it helps!

Yes, "passing notice" in this case means she was at least a little attracted to the man as he was the only man she had ever shown the slightest interest in. He drew her attention, however slight it might have been.

And that is the meaning of the phrase: to give or draw slight or casual notice to something, somebody, anything. It's sort of like a "passing glance". To notice briefly with little or minimum interest, or, give, draw only passing notice.

Ex:
1. It was a highly advertised event but it drew only passing notice from the public.

2. I drove past the accident but I only gave it passing notice so I didn't see how many cars were involved.

2. I only noticed her in passing so I don't know what she was wearing.